In a shocking incident, two 'mentally disturbed' sisters locked themselves up in their apartment for over six months. They were rescued by the police and an NGO on Tuesday in an acute state of starvation.
Anuradha and Sonali, both in their 40s, apparently became disturbed after their father passed away some years ago and their younger brother left them to fend for themselves, said the police. In the interim period, their pet dog also passed away, adding to their woes. Their mother had died earlier.
They have been admitted in a hospital in Noida after they were rescued from their residence in Sector 59 where they had gone into 'self-imposed confinement', said the police.
They said they broke into the apartment after being informed by neighbours and an NGO, who were concerned about the women who had not come out of their home for the past several months.
"The two women are starved and dehydrated. They have been admitted to Kailash Hospital," Noida Superintendent of Police Anant Kumar said.
"The older sister Anuradha, in her late 40s, is in a critical condition and is not able to speak, while the younger sister Sonali is better. She appears to be mentally abnormal," he said.
According to a member of the Sector 59 Residents Welfare Association, "The two sisters were upset after their parents died some years ago. They had differences with their younger brother who lives separately. Their pet dog, which they were very fond of, died about six months ago, after which they became even more upset."
Usha Thakur, a social activist who accompanied the police, said the house was stinking when its door was broken open.
"There was a very bad odour coming from the sisters' bodies. While the older one was half nude, the younger sister was wearing woollen clothes in this warm weather," she claimed.
The superintendent of police said they have informed the women's younger brother and were trying to reunite him with his sisters.
